Báibù diào zài diàn gāng lǐ, qiān dàn héshuǐ xǐ bù qīng.

白布掉在靛缸裡, 千擔河水洗不清。

Lit [If a piece of] white cloth falls into an indigo dyeing vat, a thousand tons of river water can't wash [it] clean.

Fig Once one has been implicated, it is difficult to regain people's good opinion.

Note [One dàn is equal to fifty kilograms.]

Topics dàn REPUTATION